Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community
Old 02-09-2017, 09:44 AM   #341
CaptainCrunch
Norm!
 
CaptainCrunch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Exp:
Default

Government screws over soldiers deployed in Kuwait. But I guess they need the money for Bombardier

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/troops-...tion-1.3277313



Quote:
Military sources say the change is already causing hardships. One deployed soldier supports his disabled sister and pays his elderly mother’s mortgage, and now their financial future is uncertain.
His mother, Glenda Lindsay, said it feels as though her son is being cheated. “They're cutting corners at the troops' expense,” she told CTV News.
Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan promised to fix the situation at a defence committee meeting on Dec. 1 when he was pressed by Conservative Defence Critic, James Bezan.
But there has yet to be any change. One affected soldier feels like “we got kicked in the stomach.”
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
CaptainCrunch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 09:49 AM   #342
Baron von Kriterium
Powerplay Quarterback
 
Baron von Kriterium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: The Honkistani Underground
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
Government screws over soldiers deployed in Kuwait. But I guess they need the money for Bombardier

http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/troops-...tion-1.3277313
Come on. It's called Camp Cupcake for a reason. There is no hardship, and not much danger.

Anyone that has financial issues should not have passed the deployment screening in the first place.
__________________
"If you do not know what you are doing, neither does your enemy."
- - Joe Tzu

Last edited by Baron von Kriterium; 02-09-2017 at 09:50 AM. Reason: grammar
Baron von Kriterium is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-09-2017, 10:08 AM   #343
llwhiteoutll
Powerplay Quarterback
 
Join Date: Dec 2013
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium View Post
Come on. It's called Camp Cupcake for a reason. There is no hardship, and not much danger.

Anyone that has financial issues should not have passed the deployment screening in the first place.
I'd say that being deployed on the other side of the world is decent hardship.

We allow tax free benefits for people who live and work half a province away from their residence, troops serving overseas show definitely get a break.

Last edited by llwhiteoutll; 02-09-2017 at 10:11 AM.
llwhiteoutll is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to llwhiteoutll For This Useful Post:
Old 02-09-2017, 12:55 PM   #344
Baron von Kriterium
Powerplay Quarterback
 
Baron von Kriterium's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: The Honkistani Underground
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by llwhiteoutll View Post
I'd say that being deployed on the other side of the world is decent hardship.

We allow tax free benefits for people who live and work half a province away from their residence, troops serving overseas show definitely get a break.
There are a few issues at play here and CTV does a poor job of explaining them:

1) the income tax exemption (in some cases, this is a 100% exemption from paying income tax), which has long been the key motivator for volunteers to Kuwait is being reduced/eliminated for those in Kuwait; and

2) the Hardship and Risk allowances, which vary depending on where you are deployed. OP IMPACT guys in Naples, IT receive little to nothing. Guys in Erbil, IRAQ, max out. OP IMPACT guys in Kuwait have seen these benefits reduce because, let's face it, hardship isn't deemed to be high and neither is the risk. In fact, the risk is assessed as the same as in Canada.

3) the Foreign Services Allowance that members will continue to receive. This allowance is fixed (ie, it doesn't matter where you are deployed) but the dollar amount increases as you increase your foreign deployments. As far as I know, this is tax free.

Based on what I know, it is (1) that is eliminated; (2) remains ,but at lesser rates. (3) definitely remains.

The vast majority volunteer for the Kuwait deployment because of the tax-free exemption. In other words, it was an incentive to get people to go because most jobs are unglamorous staff positions where the people are essentially Powerpoint monkeys for 8 hours a day in an air conditioned office. The rest of their time is spent lounging around the pool, buying stereo gear in the PX or coordinating the ball hockey league.

With respect to (1), it should be no surprise that there has been significant mission creep for OP IMPACT/Kuwait. In my opinion, that is directly attributable to the tax free exemption. The same $hyte happened in Afghanistan, by the way.

If these guys deserve tax free status, so does my former boss - currently working in Naples, Italy in a NATO HQ.

All of the soldiers in Poland and Ukraine right now pay tax and, let me tell you, those guys are working their arses off on military exercise almost on a daily basis for 6-7 month tours.
__________________
"If you do not know what you are doing, neither does your enemy."
- - Joe Tzu
Baron von Kriterium is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Baron von Kriterium For This Useful Post:
Old 02-13-2017, 11:21 AM   #345
CaptainCrunch
Norm!
 
CaptainCrunch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Exp:
Default

Guess I'll post this here.

F-35's participate in Red Flag and it seems to have been successful

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDispla...ttlespace.aspx

More on Red Flag

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...ghest-test-yet

Lockheed Martin CEO talks about a $85 million per plane cost for the F-35A by 2019. which means that the original procurement of 65 aircraft for 9 billion dollars would be achievable including running costs. as 65 plans x 85 million would be about 5.5 billion US.

elsewhere

The Canadian Navy shipbuilding program has completely fallen apart to the point that a lot of the ship builders and designers have informed the government that they're not going to bid

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ens-not-to-bid

General Dynamics wins a 309 million dollar contract to upgrade Canada's 141 LAV III IFVs.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/genera...132901873.html

Canada loses command position on Mali peacekeeping mission because they wanted to consult with Trump first (thank go)

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/nation...rump-officials
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
CaptainCrunch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 04:14 PM   #346
Bill Bumface
My face is a bum!
 
Bill Bumface's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Exp:
Default

As for the tax issues, why is this "crapping on the brave men and women that protect freedom and our way of life" and not just "paying what you need to in order to attract employment for a position in an organization".

It's a job. Some jobs suck. Some jobs are dangerous. Lots of jobs help people. Picking a dangerous job that doesn't pay much doesn't grant you automatic hero status.
Bill Bumface is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 04:26 PM   #347
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bill Bumface View Post
As for the tax issues, why is this "crapping on the brave men and women that protect freedom and our way of life" and not just "paying what you need to in order to attract employment for a position in an organization".

It's a job. Some jobs suck. Some jobs are dangerous. Lots of jobs help people. Picking a dangerous job that doesn't pay much doesn't grant you automatic hero status.
Can you please let the Oilfield Wives Group on Facebook know?
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to undercoverbrother For This Useful Post:
Old 02-13-2017, 04:37 PM   #348
Bill Bumface
My face is a bum!
 
Bill Bumface's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Exp:
Default

If that actually exists I can't even imagine...
Bill Bumface is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 04:47 PM   #349
automaton 3
First Line Centre
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Lethbridge
Exp:
Default

I would not be disappointed to see the proposed Mali "peacekeeping" deployment quietly go away.

From what I understand, there is no peace to keep.
automaton 3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 04:50 PM   #350
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa...olen-1.3979099

Quote:
More than $10 million worth of equipment — including combat gear, computers and even weapons — has been stolen from National Defence over the past decade, according to data compiled by Radio-Canada.

The majority of nearly 77,000 items declared stolen from the inventory of the Canadian Armed Forces since 2005 falls under the category of military equipment, accounting for $5.5 million of the losses. That equipment includes bulletproof vests, helmets and boots.

Meanwhile, items declared missing include transportation equipment valued at $1,456,000, telecommunications equipment valued at $253,000, tools valued at $939,000 and weapons and accessories valued at $239,000. The Department of National Defence refused to detail how many firearms disappeared.

To think I got #### for my gas mask (which I found)!
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to undercoverbrother For This Useful Post:
Old 02-13-2017, 06:09 PM   #351
Magnum PEI
Lifetime Suspension
 
Magnum PEI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
one of my favorite quotes.
That sounds made up. Do you have a source on that?
Magnum PEI is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 06:15 PM   #352
CaptainCrunch
Norm!
 
CaptainCrunch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Exp:
Default

Its certainly possible however I do recall reading it in a book about ER.

There's always a possibility that a quote could be romanticized or canadianized.

But I've seen the quote sourced multiple times.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
CaptainCrunch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2017, 11:25 PM   #353
peter12
Franchise Player
 
peter12's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
Guess I'll post this here.

F-35's participate in Red Flag and it seems to have been successful

http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDispla...ttlespace.aspx

More on Red Flag

http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...ghest-test-yet

Lockheed Martin CEO talks about a $85 million per plane cost for the F-35A by 2019. which means that the original procurement of 65 aircraft for 9 billion dollars would be achievable including running costs. as 65 plans x 85 million would be about 5.5 billion US.

elsewhere

The Canadian Navy shipbuilding program has completely fallen apart to the point that a lot of the ship builders and designers have informed the government that they're not going to bid

http://news.nationalpost.com/news/ca...ens-not-to-bid

General Dynamics wins a 309 million dollar contract to upgrade Canada's 141 LAV III IFVs.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/genera...132901873.html

Canada loses command position on Mali peacekeeping mission because they wanted to consult with Trump first (thank go)

http://ottawacitizen.com/news/nation...rump-officials
Come on, everybody not directly involved in that giant failure knows the F-35 is practically dead in the water. No way that plane is combat capable by 2019.
peter12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2017, 08:37 AM   #354
CaptainCrunch
Norm!
 
CaptainCrunch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Exp:
Default

Israel is taking delivery of the F-35

http://www.israelhayom.com/site/news...e.php?id=40271

as are other nations.

The F-35 is slowly moving into operational status as well. If there's one benefit of Trump in the white house is he's putting a ton of pressure on the manufacturer. But I tend to think your dead in the water is a gross exaggeration.

a functional F-35 at about 88 million US per copy suddenly becomes a very good deal.

http://nationalinterest.org/blog/the...or-china-19333

https://www.rt.com/news/374126-f35-jet-us-japan/
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
CaptainCrunch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-14-2017, 10:00 AM   #355
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Magnum PEI View Post
That sounds made up. Do you have a source on that?
It is made up.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 10:44 AM   #356
undercoverbrother
Franchise Player
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Sylvan Lake
Exp:
Default

http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/unionize-caf-1.3988971

Quote:
Leadership at the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has always insisted that the well-being of the rank and file is their primary concern.
Quote:
The piecemeal approach to fixing these issues isn't working. Here's something that might: unionizing the military.
Yuck.

Having worked with Unionized Armies this is a bad idea.
__________________
Captain James P. DeCOSTE, CD, 18 Sep 1993

Corporal Jean-Marc H. BECHARD, 6 Aug 1993

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sliver View Post
Just ignore me...I'm in a mood today.
undercoverbrother is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 11:08 AM   #357
Fuzz
Franchise Player
 
Fuzz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2015
Exp:
Default

iggy_oi incoming.
Fuzz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 11:15 AM   #358
peter12
Franchise Player
 
peter12's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2002
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by undercoverbrother View Post
http://www.cbc.ca/news/opinion/unionize-caf-1.3988971





Yuck.

Having worked with Unionized Armies this is a bad idea.
I'd be interested in hearing more on this from you.
peter12 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-20-2017, 11:17 AM   #359
CaptainCrunch
Norm!
 
CaptainCrunch's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Exp:
Default

That's the f$$$ing dumbest thing I've ever read, clearly written by someone who has no understanding whatsoever .

You want to fix the military, you need to reform senior leadership and make it more accountable. Remove civilian bureaucracy when it comes to procurement logistics and kit, and I don't know, maybe spend a proper amount of money on it.

Similarly you need to come up with a properly veterans support system, proper outboarding of leaving members and get rid of the old boys concept when it comes to female members.
__________________
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
CaptainCrunch is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following 3 Users Say Thank You to CaptainCrunch For This Useful Post:
Old 02-20-2017, 11:22 AM   #360
GGG
Franchise Player
 
GGG's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Exp:
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch View Post
That's the f$$$ing dumbest thing I've ever read, clearly written by someone who has no understanding whatsoever .

You want to fix the military, you need to reform senior leadership and make it more accountable. Remove civilian bureaucracy when it comes to procurement logistics and kit, and I don't know, maybe spend a proper amount of money on it.

Similarly you need to come up with a properly veterans support system, proper outboarding of leaving members and get rid of the old boys concept when it comes to female members.
And if you wanted to force those things to happen the army going on strike and refusing deployment would likely bring those issues to the surface.

On Safety standards and proper working conditions unionization was very effective in the trades same with pensions. So a bunch of the items you would like fixed could be well addressed through unions.

Does that fit within the command structure of an army I have no idea but if you strike for proper equipment you will shed light on the issue quickly.
GGG is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:20 PM.

Calgary Flames
2023-24




Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright Calgarypuck 2021